The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-11-26
Ben's Foreign Service.

hat uub iutciJ suCCcoucu W tue cottJc,
and it had come to him very heavily
encountered; and now, with reduced
rents, irregularlY paid, he found it inn
possible to 90 on. He had, therefore,
determined to spend couple of years
on the continent, during which time he
hoped that the agricultural depressions
would pass away.
The establishment at the hall was
not a large one by any means for q
country bachelor squire, but 1t was lar
ger than he could afford to keep up
under existing circumstances. So one
evening he called his servants together
and told them how matters were with
him, bidding them seek other institu-
Lions at once.
Ills personal servant, Ben Higgins,
was not included in the general dismiss
sal, but was destined to accompany his
master abroad. Ben was one of those
men not unfrequently met with in the
country-a man who could turn his
hand to most things, though he might
not be good at any. The position he
held at Wesley Grange was cross be-
tween n valet and gamekeeper, but at
odd times he had been known to cook
his masters dinner and make his mas
!ers's bed. This was during grous-
ing expedition TO the Welsh hills, but
The rumor of it had travelled to West
ley Ben was in high spirits when he
was told Of the journey in store for him.
'Tll teach these foreigners a thing
Or two." he said to the cook one night;
70 which she replied: "You be very
careful, Mr.. Ben, that they don't teach
you more than you teach them"
''ThemI" he cried "them teach me?
Why could wallop the lot of 'em, if 1
wanted to"
Then you mind you don't want to-"
she answered.
"Why, you know very WELL" con-
inued Ben, that l set your watch
igoing after James, the matchmaker,
lad had it month, and couldn't make
nothing of it; and 1 stopped the blue
bed room chimby smoking, when the
smoke had nearly druv you all out of
the place"
Rubbish" she said. "The watch
winding and as for the chimbly, it
smoked because there was bag OF straw
IN it. You needn't crow over them
hings young man."
Yes, there was little i'll feeling on
he past of the cook toward Ben. She
mad claimed him for her own original
y, but Ben had fought shy; and latter
y he had been paying good deal of
attention to Anna. the housemaid at the |
.ectory. Either fault alone, on Ben's
part would have made the cook some-
what aggrived toward him, but the two
combined was more than culinary
ilesh and blood could stand. Thus it
happened that her tongue had an ac-
less of acerbity when moving at Ben.
Down at the rectory the commotion
was nearly as general. The servants
discussed the situation from morning
ill night and Anna received many un-
pleasant jeers.
Stick to you!" said the coachman,
mot he. Them sort never sticks to
nothing but their baccy. When you
says goodby to Ben, you says goodby
Tor ever, my lass"
He can please himself" she said
but If he thinks l shall die broken
hearted because he takes on with some
foreign girl, he's very much mistook."
That's always the way with you
women folk You talk as big as big,
and when it comes to. you doubles up
to nothing"
But Ben and mes different" said
Anna. "If he's not in earnest, no
more aren't L. Which was, perhaps,
The time slipped rapidly by and IL
wanted but day till Ben and his mast
or should start for the continent.
That night Ben repaired to the rectory,
and had parting interview with
Anna. His last words were: you'll
not forget me, Anna, when am parted
rom youP I'm a-coming back for you
'ome day. Till then. no riverr'
It'll what?"
That's a bit Of French, my dear.
I've bin learning the langwidge lately.
It's something like 'goodby,' only
lore 40. Ho riverri And so thav |